Sunday, October 9, 2016

Aquaman #8 - A Review

Black Manta and N.E.M.O. launch their mystery weapon at Atlantis. It is some manner of living creature, resisting all the efforts of Aquaman and the Atlantean army to repel it. Meanwhile, Mera finds herself facing a very different sort of battle - a test of wills with The Widows, who will be the final judges of her worthiness to be Queen of Atlantis!

Dan Abnett has crafted a mythology for Aquaman as rich as any fantasy world in existence. The sequences between Mera and The Widows feel like something taken from A Game Of Thrones. And the revelation behind Black Manta's secret weapon is an honest surprise and a nice nod to the classic history of the DC Universe.

The artwork proves equally wonderful. The action sequences are top-notch and Scot Eaton draws some fantastic expressions that add a sense of motion to the static scenes of the characters merely talking. Wayne Faucher's inks are perfectly balanced and Gabe Eltaeb's color palettes are well-chosen throughout the issue.